Patent GB-790780-A (GB)
Title: Labelling mechanism
Inventor: FORSTER LESLIE GORDON
IPC: B65C1/02
Filed: 1955-02-24
Abstract: 790,780. Labelling machines. FORSTERS MACHINE CO., Ltd.Feb. 3, 1956 [Feb. 24, 1955], No. 5586/55. Class 73 Relates to a machine for labelling the ends of articles, e.g. packets of biscuits, by means of two opposed labelling units between which the articles are fed and arranged to dwell in two successive positions between label operating elements. According to the invention each labelling unit comprises a label magazine 35 Figs. 1, 3 reciprocated in timed relation to a pivoted transfer arm 46 having a suction head 45 which, in one position of the magazine, extracts a label therefrom and then swings downwardly to transfer the label 34 to grippers 70 adjacent the end of the article 1 in a first position; in this position the label is attached partially to the article by a first reciprocating contact element 6, the article then being moved to a second position in which the label is finally attached over its whole area by a reciprocating pressure element 4. The two labelling units 12 are mounted for transverse adjustment on either side of a conveyer 13 which operates a plurality of pairs of fingers 14, Fig. 5 projecting through longitudinal slots 15 in a platform 9. The fingers 14 are moved upwardly to a position above the platform 9 and then lengthwise to move the articles forwardly, the fingers then being withdrawn downwardly and moved rearwardly and the cycle of movements repeated. A brush 10. lightly engages the articles on the platform 9. Each magazine 35 is adjustably carried by a slider 38 running between opposed pairs of antifriction rollers 39 and reciprocated by means of a cam 42 and cam follower 41, the cam 42 being carried by a continuously rotating cam shaft 43. With the magazine 35 in its lowermost position, the transfer arm 46 is in its raised position and the suction head 45 holds the lowermost label 34 when the magazine is next raised. The arm 46 then swings downwardly to a position immediately above the grippers which comprise an upper member 69 and a lower member 70 both movable transversely towards and away from the articles and relatively to one another. The arm 46 brings the edge of the label between the parts 69 and 70 which then close while moving towards the article and simultaneously suction is cut off from the head 45. The gripper parts 69, 70 then release the label simultaneously with its partial application to the article by the contact element 6 and then move rearwardly to receive the next label. Each contact element 6, Which may be provided with a heater for heat-sealed labels, is carried by a slider 89 Fig. 4 mounted between anti-friction rollers 90 and operated by a cam mounted on the cam shaft 43. A bracket 101 is adjustably secured to a bracket 102 rigidly secured to the slider 89 and is provided with bearings 104 in which slides the stem 103 of the pressure element 4, the stem 103 being urged to a forward position by a light helical spring 105. The two elements 4, 6 are thus operated simultaneously and where there are variations in the transverse lengths of the articles, the spring 105 ensures that the element 4 engages the end of the shorter article.